Valve tool



I. J. CLARK Aug. 31, 1937.

VALVE TOOL Filed NOV. 50, 1936 m T N E v m 4 J. GL/I/P/r.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 31, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VALVE TOOL v Ira J. Clark, Fort Morgan, Colo. Application November 30, 1936, Serial No.-1l3,403

4 Claims.

The valve springs in a modern internal combustion engine are held in place by means of small wedge-shapedsplit cones which are positioned around the valve stem. These split cones have internal ridges which engage grooves in the stem to prevent longitudinal movement of the cones. The valve spring washer prevents separation of the cones so that when the latter are in place, the valve spring is securely locked in position on the valve stem.

This invention relates to a tool for placing these split cone valve spring retainers in position on the valve stem.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a highly efiicient tool, which will seourely hold the two halves of the retaining cone while the .latter are being placed in position; which will operate in the very limited space provided between the valve retaining washer and the valve-tappet; which will provide a permanent bottom for holding the cones in the tool which after the cones are in place, can be slipped from under them to allow the valve spring to reach its bottommost position; and which will retain its grip on the cones until they are completely enclosed by the valve spring retaining Washer.

Other objects of the invention and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the split cones being positioned in the tool.

Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the use of the tool in placing the cones about the valve stem.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the tool as it ap- 5 pears as the spring is lowered in place on the Valve stem.

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the tool being released from the cones after the latter are in position in the spring retaining washer.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the tool handle and sleeve taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 3.

In the drawing a typical valve stem of the type employed on internal combustion engines is indioated at H], a valve spring ll, spring retaining 5 washer at l2, valve tappet I3, and split cones at The invention comprises a handle member l5 having a channel plate I! slidably mounted thereon. The channel plate I! may be projected forwardly or withdrawn by means of the users thumb. .j'Ihe movement of the channel plate is limited by a rivet I8 which passes througha slotted; hole 25 in the channel plate ll. The forward extremity of the channel plate is bifur e'ated'as shown at 21 so that it will pass on eachside of the valve stem l when in the projcted' position.

Apair of spring actuated jaws l9 are mounted upon apivot rivet 20 extending .from the handle I through afslotte'd opening 26 in the channel plate l'l [The jawsf l9 are forced apart at their rearwar'dlfextremities by means of a coil spring around their pivot .pin' 20,- as is usual in such constructions The extremity of the spring shows insidefthe rearward extremity of the upper jaw IS in Fig. 2. The forward extremities of the jaws l9 are conically indented as shown at 2| to conform to the shape of the usual split cone 22.

A separating bar 23 extends forwardly between the two jaws l9. This bar is held in place by the rivets l8 and 20, and is longitudinally slotted as shown at 24 so that it may move forwardly and back over these rivets. The forward extremity of the separating bar is provided with a 'concavity or notch Hi.

In use, the operator forces the separating bar 23 between the two spring actuated jaws l9. He then individually separates the jaws from the bar by the pressure of his thumb and slips the cones 22 in place in the sockets 2| of the jaws, as shown in Fig. 1.

It is desired to call attention to the fact that at this time, the channel plate I! is in its forward position so that it provides a firm bottom for the support of the cones 22 in the jaws. The incline of the cones prevents them from moving upwardly in the jaws and the channel plate I! prevents them from moving downwardly so that the cones are firmly held and absolutely prevented from falling from the tool. He now compresses the valve spring by means of the compressor 14 and presses the notched extremity I6 of the separating bar 23 against the valve stem ID at the point where the latter is grooved to receive the cones. As the tool is pushed inwardly, the separating bar will travel backward- 1V and will move out of position between the allow the retaining washer I2 totake their place.

Since there is no part of the tool below the 5 cones, the tool can move downwardly completely to and over the valve tappet l3,,,if necessary,

without interference with the expansion of the spring H and without releasing the cones; operator then engages the rear extremities of the 20 jaws IS with his fingers so as to separate them and release them, as shown in Fig. 4.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied,

25 within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent 1. A'split cone tool for engine valve work comprising: a handle member; a pair of spring actuated jaws secured to said handle member, each of said jaws being provided with a socketfor re? ceiving a split cone; a channel member fitted over the top and edges of said handle between the latter and said jaws to maintain said cones in the sockets in said jaws, said channel member being longitudinally slidable on said handle member so that it may be withdrawn from said cones i0 when the latter are in place.

2. A split cone valve tool comprising: a handle member; a pivot member extending from the The 1 upper face of said handle member; a pair of spring-actuated jaws mounted on said pivot member and extending beyond the extremity of said handle member, each of said jaws being indented to receive a split cone; a separating bar slidable between said jaws, said bar having an elongated hole for the passage of said pivot member; and a slidable plate positioned between said jaws and said handle member to maintain the split cones inisaid indentations.

3. A split cone valve tool comprising: a handle member; a pivot member extending from the upper face of said handle member; a pair of spring-actuated jaws mounted on said pivot member and extending beyond the extremity of said handle member, each of said jaws being indented to receive a split cone; a separating bar slidable between-'sa'id jaws, said bar having an elongated hole for the passage of said pivot member; an aligning member projecting from said handle member through a slotted holein said separating member to hold the latterin alignment with said handle member; and a slidable plate positioned between said jaws and said handle member to maintain the split cones in place in said indentations, said plate being slotted for the-passage of said pivot member and said aligning member.

4. A split cone valvetool comprising: a handle member; a pivot member extending from the upper face of said handle member; a pair of spring-actuated jaws mounted on said pivot 

